Epilogue

Two years later…

Eris lookedup from where she was chopping the vegetables to put in a stew, admiring the scene before her. There on a blanket in the middle of the living room floor was her entire universe.

Colton had shamelessly wept despite the fact that he'd delivered babies in the line of duty before. Zane did not get his wish for a little brother – and was quite upset when he found out that he had a baby sister. He threw a tantrum to rival any child who got his toy taken away from him. Going as far as to tell both of them to ‘put the baby back'… but that had changed.

They all had.

Charlotte was lying on the blanket, having some time to roll around to gain some strength, but was accompanied by her favorite people – Daddy and Zane. Both were lying on either side of her, listening, and having the most precious ‘conversations' that had zero words within them.

"Lottie," Zane encouraged in a high-pitched voice. "Are you going to sing with us?"

"Are we singing, little man?" Colton said tenderly, his face so full of pride and love that it was staggering… only to have Charlotte interrupt with a loud coo.

"Oooooooooh," the baby said loudly, waving her little fists as her lip curled so sweetly.

"Did you hear Miss Charlotte?"

"I did… and she's singing," Zane beamed and then cooed, pretending to talk to his sister. "Cooooooo, Charlotte… cooooo."

"Ooooooh," Charlotte screeched at first and then began to coo again, several times, only to have Colton join in. The baby would speak, then the two males would share a look and one would ‘answer'… before the other would join in. It was beautifully sweet and tender, making her heart burst with love as she stared at them.

She never imagined how beautiful things could be and couldn't picture going back to the world she once knew. Not now, not ever. No, Colton was a vital part of their lives, and she still felt so much guilt for having kept him from these moments, yet he never brought it up. To him, it was their past, and he thrived, lived, and loved for all the tomorrows they would share.

Smiling, she set down the knife and carrots that had been in her hands, and dried her hands on a hand towel. No, this could wait five minutes because right now, she just wanted to be a part of this precious bubble before her, and met Colton's eyes as she padded over silently, trying not to disturb them.

"Hey Beautiful…" he whispered, sitting up slightly and holding out his arms toward her, helping her down onto the blanket to join them. She just melted against him because he was always doing sweet little things and reaching for her.

He curled on his side, spooning her between the baby and Zane, treating them all like they were the most precious things in the world to him and she loved it.

"Hey there, little man," she smiled softly at Zane. "Are you singing with Charlotte?"

"We're trying to," he chuckled, nodding and holding out a finger so Charlotte could grasp it. The little girl just adored Zane and was always looking toward him with such large inquisitive eyes.

"Is that your brother?" Eris whispered and saw Charlotte swing her head, wobbling slightly, as she gave them the briefest gummy smile before cooing again.

"She's talking to us," Colton whispered tenderly against Eris's ear. "Aren't the two of them beautiful?"

"Very," she chuckled, knowing where his mind was going already – only to have Charlotte coo loudly once more.

"You think she's telling off Daddy?" she asked playfully, seeing Zane's smile right before he started giggling.

"Hey, now that's not nice," Colton protested, but it fell on deaf ears as she felt his hand caressing her rear.

"You behave back there," she warned, chuckling. "Watch those hands."

"Oh, I'm watching them…" he laughed softly. "Let's go for baby number three, Eris. I want to do this all over again."

"You're incorrigible. Zane, tell your daddy to behave…"

"Daddy, you better be good or no cookies after dinner," Zane said with a frown, shaking his finger at him… only to hear Charlotte let out a loud laugh before she cooed again. "Charlotte said the same thing."

"Okay, okay," Colton agreed. "I know when I'm outnumbered…"

She looked over her shoulder and saw his smile as his eyes dropped to her lips. Oh yes, she knew exactly what was on his mind and turned slightly to face him.

"How about we order pizza for dinner and go take Zane to the park for a little while?"

"Wear the kids out?"

"You know it…"

"We're going to the park?" Zane exclaimed happily. "I'll be right back! I'mma getting my things."

The moment Zane left the room, Colton's eyes met hers again.

"Hi…"

"Hi yourself…"

"So we are going to wear out the kids and put them to bed early… but I'm supposed to behave?" he whispered suggestively, leaning forward to kiss her.

"What's a girl supposed to do when the man she loves has roaming hands and makes the most beautiful babies in the world?"

"Well," Colton began, puffing up his chest and trying his best to look macho. "You should endeavor to let him make those babies and quit telling him ‘no' all the time. I mean, can you just imagine?"

She smiled at him lovingly and touched his cheek, caressing his beloved face and admiring his smile. There was such power, such intimacy, such yearning in his gaze that it was humbling, and she was so blissfully happy they had taken a chance at beginning again.

"I can, my love," she breathed. "I honestly can see it all in your eyes."

"Oh man, Eris," he began, his voice emotional – and all the other comments, quips, or words were silenced as he turned into her, cradling her body beneath his, as he kissed her deeply there in the living room.

"Ughhh, Daddyyyy…" Zane groaned from nearby. "Let Mama breathe, and we're going to the park, remember?"

"Oh yeah," Colton grinned intimately at her.

"Duty calls…" she murmured, reaching up to touch his lips. "We'll finish this later, husband."

"Yeah, we will."

* * *

Ten years later…

"Mommmmm!"

The ear-piercing shriek came from inside the house, and Eris winced. Charlotte and Zane fought like cats and dogs sometimes, while other moments they were just as easygoing as could be.

This wasn't one of those moments.

Zane stormed out into the yard and gave everyone a grim stare that prompted Colton to move quickly. He grabbed the mouthy teenager by the shoulder, stopping him mid-stride, immediately prompting a comment from nearby.

"You see that, Ollie?" Justin began. "I better never see you give your mama a look like that, boy. Mr. Fischer is a whole lot nicer than I am because I will tear your…"

"Eh-hem," Maya said loudly from nearby, causing Eris to look over her shoulder at the other woman, who winked and grinned before waving her fingers. "Let's keep this family-friendly."

Oh yes, time had passed and there had been a staggering number of changes over the years. Births, new homes, new positions, reunions, and so much more, including what had to be a minor psychotic break. What had they been thinking to buy Zane a drum set for Christmas?

She mused silently, trying not to laugh at the thought that suddenly struck her. Colton's pride and joy, Zane, was nodding and murmuring ‘Yes, sir'… as Charlotte came running out the front door, plopping down in her lap where she was sitting in a lawn chair.

"Mama, Zane hit me with a drumstick."

"What were you doing?"

"Why do I have to be doing something?"

"Charlotte…"

"Fine. I was going to put them in the trash, and he got mad, started yelling at me, and…"

"Charlotte, this means a lot to your brother – which is why we are going to sit out here and listen to him give us a concert before going inside to take some ibuprofen."

"I brought the extra strength stuff, Eris," Justin volunteered, touching her shoulder from where he sat behind her.

"You got this, little man!" Lance cheered, standing up and clapping wildly before whistling. "Do it just like I showed you!"

"Where's Alec…?"

"I'm sorry, man…" Alec came running past them.

Lance took his position up front in the garage beside where her son was setting up. The firefighter had a guitar bouncing wildly across his shoulder as he moved to hurry and plug it in, looking at Zane. "You ready?"

"I've got this," Zane grinned… and Eris felt tears of pride sting her eyes as she stared at him. He looked so much like Colton sometimes – and she wished he'd get a haircut. He was in a phase, letting his hair grow out, wearing black, and talking back, but they were letting him ‘find himself' – no matter how painful it was.

Charlotte sighed, and before she could say anything, Lance began strumming the electric guitar. The melody was easily recognizable, and her mouth dropped open in shock.

"Oh heck, yeahhhhh…" Justin yelped, getting to his feet.

"My man! Nirvana?! Seriously?" Alec grinned – and physically climbed over Chief Carpenter where he was sitting to high-five Eris, Charlotte, and Colton – as he began shaking his head to the beat of the music and then hopping up in the air excitedly, dancing.

"I wanna dance with Uncle Alec," Charlotte hurried – and was suddenly dancing with the other man as Eris watched, stunned at the performance. She looked at Colton, who was grinning proudly, watching Zane.

Lance was grinning easily from beside the cheap drum set they'd bought Zane for Christmas, watching him play, and everyone started singing the words to the old song, ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit' – and her son?

Zane was in his element.

He began whaling on the drums. His timing was spot on, and his performance was flawless. His brown hair was flying almost as much as his arms were. Her son was keeping the pace, playing his heart out with every ounce of his soul in that moment.

She knew the team had been hanging out in the garage for several months— all of them, but she had no idea some of this was happening. Sure, she'd heard the drums – but this?

This was incredible.

Everyone was now standing, and some were dancing to the music. The neighbors were coming out of their houses because it was soooo incredibly loud, but she wasn't about to put a kibosh on her son's moment. Nope, her boy – her baby – was in the zone doing something he sincerely loved with all his heart, and she was amazed. And then, as fast as it started, the song was over.

Zane was grinning proudly, waiting for a reaction – and boy, did they give it! The applause was so loud. Colton was whooping and hollering, and even Charlotte was praising her brother. Everyone was rushing forward, patting him on the shoulders and back.

"Oh my gosh, Zane… that was EPIC! Play it again!" Charlotte gushed excitedly. "Do you know anything else? Can I play an instrument, too, Daddy? I mean, how cool was that?"

… Only to have a different song start up again – as Alec laughed, clapping his hands in awareness.

"I forgot Lance has an unhealthy obsession with David Grohl, the Foo Fighters, and Nirvana… the bromance is legit!"

Zane was laughing, grinning at Lance, who was playing the song by heart and singing now, as he joined in – playing again.

Yeah, this was a heck of an afternoon, Eris smiled, wrapping an arm around Colton's waist and laying a hand on his chest. The two looked at each other and he smiled at her lovingly, digging something out of his pocket. She looked at him in surprise and laughed as she realized what it was that her husband was slipping her silently.

"It's about to get really loud," Colton warned.

Earplugs.